Extras from Idaho

Paige has cows right by the bridge at her house. Whenever we would start to drive down her road I would tell Alex we were going to see Mammi and he would start mooing.

The first thing Alex noticed about Bruno was his tail flinging back and forth like crazy. He just stood there pointing at it and getting all excited. The best was when he got behind Bruno in hopes of catching the tail but instead got a powerful swish of the tail right in the neck. For the rest of the time we were in Idaho, Paige would ask Alex what the doggie's tail does and Alex would start waving his arm back and forth in front of his body as fast as he could.

Paige has a small, green bucket that she fills with water for Bruno and leaves it outside the front door. Alex loved to bring the bucket to the kitchen, fill it with water, and pack it back out to the front for Bruno. Paige would also let Bruno come inside on the entry carpet rug while Alex fed him bites of bread.

Alex went on a few tractor rides and after about the second time he felt like he could handle it on his own and would push Paige's hands off the steering wheel.

Toys

Price and Will had so many fun toys. We had a really good time visiting the Armstongs in Provo.

The Greats

We visited all the Sipherds in Utah. They were all willing to hand their phones over to him just so they could have a few minutes of love from him. He drives a hard bargain. This is Grandpa and Grandma Sipherd (John and Janice - Adam's grandparents).

The Bike

Price shared his bike with Alex. They were taking turns, when Alex was on it Price would chase after him and make Alex laugh by flapping his hat in front of the bike. But when Price would take a turn riding it, Alex would chase after the bike and would scream and cry.

That night when Dain came home from work Price informed Dain that Alex's favorite thing to do is scream. It was hilarious.

Bapa

Alex started to say "Bapa" for Grandpa. My dad is so excited. His name is the only one Alex says.

Grandma time

My mom and I took Alex to McKee's pet store. We had a really good time showing him the goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, fish, birds, dogs, and more!



He started to snort like a pig for the first time when he saw this pot belly pig. Alex scrunches up his nose and makes the noise in the back of his throat while breathing in through his nose.

There was also a tank with turtles in it, when we were ready to leave we tried to make for the exit door three times and every time Alex broke free from my hand and ran staight to the turtle tank and tried to stick his hands inside to say hello. We finally had to carry him out.

Toupee

Randy wears this toupee on days when he wants to look a little younger. He was trying to get a good feel for what he looks like with his new toupee on so he had Alex model it.

All Together Again

This is the first time we have all been together for a picture since Adam and I got married in August of 2005. Keith spoke in church today about some of his mission experiences. I have had a really good time being around him this past week. It has been a long time since I have been able to spend any time with him. Before I got married in 2005 I was at BYU-I, so it has been a while.

(John, Carl, David, Carolyn, Amy, Keith, Mark, Anna, Greg, Jacob)

Uncle Al and Jess

It took a minute for Alex to warm up to Uncle Al but once he pulled out the lucky charm marshmallows Alex changed his tune pretty quick.

Papa's stair chair

Papa and Nana (Adam's grandparents) added onto Paige and Randy's barn apartment. They recently returned from their mission in Africa and moved from their house in Montana to Paige's barn.

Kari

Alex loves cuddling up to Kari in the morning and after bath time. He goes in her room in the morning and curls up to her and lays his head on her shoulder. That is a very rare thing for Alex.

Puppies

Kimmie showed Alex their puppies. She was trying to help him hold one and he about strangled the poor thing. He is still learning to be gentle.

High School Friends

I met up with a few friends from high school at Applebee's. It was fun to see them and hear what everyone is doing.

Cassie lives in Pocatello and is just starting a new job at a new salon that she has helped one of her friends open. Jessica lives in Virginia (Idaho). She inherited her grandma's house and she and her husband have remodeled it and now live there with their three children. Tenielle lives in Idaho Falls, she is a manager at Walmart and has two children. Dominee is going to be graduating in May with a masters in social work. She lives in Pocatello and has one son.

We may all be older and doing new things, but it was good to see that they all still have their great personalities.

(me, Cassie Smith Moser, Jessica Stuart Curzon, Tenielle Thompson Honeycutt, Dominee Gamby Hall)

Earning his keep.

Alex loves vacuum cleaners. It took quite a bit of coaxing to keep him out of the vacuum storage closet at Paige's and my family's house.

What does a chicken say?

Keith's Back!

Keith got back today from him mission in Mexico. I am so excited to spend some time with him.

Bunny

This blue bunny is bigger than Alex. He spotted it on Greg's bed the first day we were at my family's house. He has been insisting on sleeping with it. I finally had to put the kibosh on that when I went to check on him after being in his crib for about 30 minutes for nap time and found him still awake flinging the bunny around in the crib. He was not happy to have the privilege taken away.

Phones!

This is probably Alex's most favorite pastime. He loves phones and he loves having the charger to plug in and out. He was so excited that Mammi was willing to share her phone.

First Egg

Alex went out to the chickens this morning and found his first egg. He carefully made his way all the way back into the house, but once inside he was so excited for me to come look at it he forgot to hold onto the egg.

Pampering Time

Alex loves sitting on Mammi's bathroom counter while she gets ready in the morning. The first morning we were here she gave him a piece of kitkat and told him it was chocolate. He repeated back to her "chalky" with emphasis on the "a." Since then when Paige says to him, "do you want to come help Mammi do her hair and makeup?" he says "chalky." He then runs to her room, straight to her closet, and points up to her hidden stache on the top shelf. It is so funny.

Best Ever - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Alex loves to help in the kitchen. Anna makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever. They are all perfectly round, crunchy but soft and chewy, and just delicious. I even have her recipe but when I make them they still don't taste the same as Anna's. So I sent Alex in to get all her secrets.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together:

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

Add and beat:

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

Add and stir in by hand:

3 cups flour (approximate)

1-2 cups chocolate chips

Drop by rounded spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

The Junk Drawer

This is Paige's junk drawer in her kitchen. Alex sat up on a stool and rifled through this drawer all night long.




A junk drawer find!

Mimi and Laura

We met up with Laura and Amelia (Mimi) yesterday. It was fun to catch up and Alex loved getting to know them.

Fast Friends

Alex met Bruno today for the first time. Alex has always loved seeing animals while we are out walking or as he is perched by our window sill looking for birds and dogs in the park. He has been signing dog for a long time but today he started to say "goggie" and slap his leg. He loves Bruno and he loves my family's dog as well. He asks for "goggie" when he wakes up in the morning, after naptime, during his meals and baths, and when he is just wandering around the house.

Birthday Boy

Jacob is 10 years old today. Today when Alex saw Jacob for the first time he ran right to him and wrapped his arms around his neck and laid his head on Jacob's shoulder. Jacob is always up for playing with Alex and keeping him entertained. Alex and Jacob also have some similiar features.

Trip to Idaho

Alex and I are in Idaho for a couple weeks while Adam finishes up his busy season at work. We got lucky on the airplane ride out and had an extra seat by us. So Alex sat in his own seat with his seatbelt on for a good part of the ride. He has also started to hold his own banana this past week.